Project to begin after Monster Energy Cup race in September and be completed by September 2018

International Speedway Corporation's NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series track in Richmond will take on a new name to connect to its roots and will undergo a $30 million renovation to prepare for the future.

ISC and track president Dennis Bickmeier unveiled the project, called Richmond Raceway Reimagined, on Tuesday in front of a group that included Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe.

Bickmeier said the facility name has been changed to Richmond Raceway, similar to the Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway name it had before becoming Richmond International Raceway in 1988. ISC Chief Executive Officer Lesa France Kennedy followed by announcing that ISC will fund the $30 million infield remake.

That project will begin following the Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 on Sept. 9 and will be completed for the Cup race in September 2018. McAuliffe said on behalf of Virginia Tourism the state will chip in $150,000 to the renovation, joking it was "to match the $30 million in private money."

"Today's announcement is incredibly significant, $30 million to redevelop what is to become the new Richmond Raceway," France Kennedy said.

"My job is to get this facility ready for the next 70 years and all the great race fans that come and enjoy this facility," Bickmeier said.

NASCAR races at Richmond International Raceway.

The changes, Bickmeier said, are designed to create a "vibrant infield that creates excitement on a race weekend" and immerses fans in the racing experience. One of the biggest ways the track will attempt that will be walkways in the new garages that will allow fans to watch the cars being worked on from just a few yards away.

"We really pride ourselves in NASCAR in bridging the gap between the fan and the driver," Xfinity Series points leader Elliott Sadler said. "We really try to bring the action as close as we can to each other. We want our fans to be interactive, on the playing field, all the way up to the green-flag starts."

Sadler mentioned other ways Richmond Raceway Reimangined will do that for fans, including infield social and engagement areas with concessions. In addition, Gatorade Victory Lane will be moved closer to the stands, so fans can share in the celebration, and will feature an 80-person club with roof access overlooking it.

Among the other enhancements are a relocated tram route delivering fans to the front gate of the track, 80 new consumer RV spaces and a new pedestrian tunnel. That tunnel will include handicap access, a feature that pleases longtime Richmond fan Elmer Wheeler, whose son Bennie, has Spina Bifida, which confines him to a wheelchair.

"That it can be fixed so the wheelchairs can get through is the biggest thing," said Elmer Wheeler, who's attended every race at the track since 1985. "That's what the track really needs.

"Now (Bennie) can be where the race car drivers are and everything. I think everything they are doing is wonderful."

McAuliffe said, "This is just one more thing with all of the beaches we have, the mountains we have, the historical sites that we have. No other state has the assets that we have here in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"Let me tell you folks, (Richmond Raceway) is the greatest track, in the greatest state in the greatest nation on earth."